Statement on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

December 6, 2014

MONTRÉAL – The Leader of the Liberal Party of Canada, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women:

“Today, I am honoured to attend the 25th anniversary commemoration of the tragic École Polytechnique massacre.

“We stand together in remembrance of the fateful moment when, on December 6, 1989, a gunman stormed École Polytechnique and systematically murdered 14 women and injured an additional ten women and four men. This abhorrent act of violence was rooted in misogyny, and remains, to this day, one of the darkest chapters in Canadian history.

“Sadly, 25 years later, violence against women continues to be all too prevalent both at home and abroad. We must continue to fight fiercely in demanding a world where gender-based violence is roundly denounced and recognized as unacceptable in all circumstances.

“Equally, we must persevere in the fight to end gun violence. As legislators, it is our duty to provide law enforcement with the tools they need to stay safe on the job and reduce gun-related deaths, particularly in instances of domestic violence. As Liberals, we remain committed to supporting well-crafted gun control laws and policies that keep all Canadians safe.

“On behalf of the Liberal Party of Canada and our entire Parliamentary Caucus, I join Canadians across the country in memory of a national tragedy. On this day, we wear our white ribbons to demonstrate to the world that violence against women will never be tolerated, in this country or any other.”